Automobile driving mechanism.



J. J. WALK.

' AUTOMOBILE DRIVING MECHANISM.

APPLICATION FILED MAY12,1914.

I 9 I 11:31 Patented Feb. 16, 1915.

New L AUTQMOBILE DRIVING MECHANISM.

citizen of the Ur'iit'ed States, residing at flakland, .in'the county of Alameda and -Stateof California, have invented new and useful Improvements in Automobile Driving Mechanism, of which the following is a specification.

' the front wheels'of lit? lid

This invention relates to a front wheel drive.

The object of the invention is to provide a novel form of transmission by which the engine power may be transmitted. to drive, I a motor vehicle, or like device. '.Another object of the invention is to provide a front wheel drive which will not interfere with the steering connections on the wheels.

Further objects will hereinafter appear. The invention consists of the parts and the construction and combination of parts hereinafter more fully described and claimed, having reference to the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is a side elevation of the chassis, showing the application of the invention. Fig. 2 is a vertical, central section of the front axle and wheel, showing the driving connection. Fig. 3 is a plan view of same.

Referring to the drawings, A. indicates the chassis of a motor car; 2 the engine; 3 the transmission case; 4 the rear driving wheels to which power is transmitted in any suitable manner, and 5 the front wheels.

The subject matter of the present invention comprises a secondary transmission through which power is transmitted to the front wheels of the car. This is accomplished in the manner: 6 indicates a secondary drive shaft which is supported'at one end by a journal 7 and at the other end by journals 8, formed in a secondary transspecification of ltettcrs tatent.

Application filled my, in, mi.- e nal no. s'aaoea.

I Patented with a; steering arm [extension 18 iii the usual manner, and is also provided with a journal extension 19 onthe inside of which is mounted a spindle 20. ournaled on the opposite side of the bearing extension is, a wheel hub re 11 n a; when; or onnnn, can een 21 tow'hich spokes 22 and the felly of the Wheel are secured. The wheel nut, to-

. gather with the spindle is preferably mountedtin anti-'fifiction bearings, as indicated at 23, 24 and 25 and the1nner end of the spintile" provided j with an annular shoulder '26'and a square shank 27. The outer enact the spindle is 'alsd provided with a square shank xt nsion-as indicated at 29', The reduced end of the wheel hub indicated at 30, isalsosquare to form a riving cgnnec tion between the spindle an hub, and the spindle, together with the hub, are secured upon the knuckle-bearing extension 19 by means of a nut 31.

- Secured on the intermediate shaft 1 1 is a set-collar 32, and slidably mounted on a feather 33 on said shaft, is a flanged collar 34:. Secured on said collar, as at 35, is a coil spring 36, the other end of which is secured, as at 37, to the square shank extension 27 on the spindle. A flexible driving.

connection-between shaft 1 1 and spindle 20 .is thus formed, which permits the wheel to be operated in the usual manner by the steering arm 18; collar 34 permitting the spring mission case 9, which is suitably secured as 13, and secured upon an intermediate shaftv 14 which is journaled in said case, -as at 15, and which is positioned at right angles to shaft 6, is a bevel gear'lti. The knuckle indicated at 17 is in this instance, provided tocontract and expand as conditions may require. I v Theoperation will be as follows: Power is transmitted through gears 11 and 12 and shaft 6 to bevel gear 13 with which bevel gear-16 intermeshes, and power is consequently transmitted to the intermediate shaft where it is in turn transmitted through coil spring 36 to spindle 20. The square shank extension 28 on the outer end of the spindle forms a driving connection between the spindle and the hub of the wheel; driving connection direct to the front wheel is thus formed. While ll have here only shown and described one front wheel, ll wish it understood that the opposite side is simi larly connected and constructed.

Nut 31 not only secures the wheel hub upon journal extension 19 but also forms a means by which anti-friction bearings 23-25 may be; adjusted. Anti-friction bearing 241-.

may be independently adjusted bymeans of screw-sleeve 38; j s v i A front drivejconstructedsand coected as here shown is plel and subtial in 33. The position of the anti-friction bearings within the wheels produces a wellbalanced construction, in which all thrusts and strains are equally compensated. The

' flexible connection, indicated at 36 is preferably constructed of a square spring; and may be double in construction if desired;

but the materials and finish of the several parts of the drive may otherwise be such as the experience and judgment of the manu- -facturer may dictate.

I wish it understood that various changes in form, ,proporti0n and minor details of construction may be resorted to within the scope of the appended claim, and that I do not wish to limit myself to the specific design and construction here shown.

=Hav1ng thus described my invention,

what I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is: The combination with a driving member and a driven member of a collar having an end flange, said collar being slidably mounted adjacent one end of the driving member, a set collar adjustably mounted on the driving member, means for holding the set collar in adjusted positions on the driving member, and a coil spring having one end fixed to the driven member and its other end surrounding the slidable collar, said slidable collar being adapted to slide upon the driving member and ,the flange being adapted to engage the set collar to limit movement inone direction.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

JASPER J. WALK.

Witnesses:

, J mm H. HERRING,

W. W. HEALEY- 

